Engaging Experts

Round Table Group
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After 25 years helping litigators find the right expert witnesses, Round Table Group’s network contains some of the world’s greatest experts. On this podcast, we talk to some of them about what’s new in their field of study and their experience as expert witnesses.

  1. 1D AGO

    Engaging with Employment Law Attorney, Derek Smith

    One weak expert can turn a strong case into a courtroom disaster, and one great expert can change the entire settlement conversation. In this podcast episode, we sit down with nationally recognized employment attorney Derek Smith of Derek Smith Law Group PLLC to talk about what actually works when hiring, managing, and preparing expert witnesses in sexual harassment and employment discrimination cases. We start with the moment Derek learned the stakes firsthand: a first case that forced him to get serious about emotional distress damages, diagnosis, and how expert testimony holds up under scrutiny. From there we get practical about expert witness vetting, including the must ask questions that protect you from the nightmare scenario of a judge refusing to qualify your expert after you’ve already spent months and thousands preparing for trial. Then we dig into the mechanics that trip people up: privilege and confidentiality, what is discoverable, why every document you give an expert matters, and how compensation discussions can create bias issues. Derek also shares his unorthodox approach to deposition and cross-examination prep, including improv based warmups to help experts stay calm and sharp, plus a mock cross that is tougher than the real thing. We wrap with engagement letter terms, flat fees vs hourly billing, demonstratives and visuals that persuade juries, and why long-term relationships with experts are a career advantage. If you work with expert witnesses, want better trial preparation, or simply want to understand how credible testimony is built, this conversation is a practical guide. Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review with your biggest expert witness lesson learned.

    23 min

  2. MAR 31

    Engaging with Civil Engineer & Snow Sports Expert, Randy Wall

    Randy Wall is both a certified instructor and a licensed civil engineer, and he shows us how that combo changes everything when snow sports accidents land in court.  Randy explains how time gaps complicate site visits, why a consistent report template keeps testimony inside the “lane,” and how to translate dynamic crashes into clear, simple language that juries trust. Visuals are a cornerstone of his approach. He hand-draws clean diagrams to ground perspective and sequence, and when the record supports it, he partners with a crash reconstruction expert to build compelling animations that align physics with documented facts. We also map the standards landscape. Snow sports live inside a patchwork of state statutes, county rules, ANSI ropeway codes, ASTM equipment standards, and the National Ski Areas Association Responsibility Code—many of them voluntary. Randy shows how real cases hinge on duty of care, standard of care, breach, cause-in-fact, and proximate cause, not on blanket rules. He walks through the cascade of decisions that often leads to injury and how to separate foreseeability from hindsight. On the business side, Randy lays out his contract strategy: hourly, on retainer, with a thorough agreement. And how he screens for attorneys who want independent analysis rather than a prefabricated conclusion. His closing playbook for experts is crisp: prepare so your report leads, answer only the question asked in deposition, and never volunteer a tangent that opens new lines of attack. If you value sharp thinking, clean visuals, and courtroom-ready explanations, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share with a colleague who works in litigation or risk, and leave a quick review telling us your biggest takeaway.

    25 min

  3. MAR 9

    Engaging with Land Surveyor Expert, Frank Ferrantello

    A map can tell the truth and still confuse everyone in the room. That’s why we sat down with veteran surveyor and expert witness Frank Ferrantello to unpack how he turns dense site data into clean, visual evidence that judges and juries actually understand. From adding targeted photos to forensic surveys to framing testimony in everyday terms, Frank shows how clarity and not theatrics, moves cases forward. We dive into the shrinking pipeline of seasoned land surveyors and why real expertise goes beyond data collection. Frank breaks down the legal backbone of surveying in New York: easements, boundaries, sidewalk liability, public versus private space. And how staying current on statutes and case law changes outcomes. He shares memorable examples from urban disputes, like when a plaza looks private but is governed by public agreements, and how mapping those lines can reset responsibility and reshape a claim. Frank also opens his playbook on professionalism: starting each matter with conflict checks, refusing the hired-gun mentality, and deciding whether the facts deserve his name. His preparation focuses on organized digital records, concise answers for cross, and the discipline to let evidence speak for itself. When a case lands late, tight systems and visual exhibits help him deliver fast without bending the truth. If you care about expert testimony, construction law, real estate disputes, or how to make complex information simple and persuasive, this conversation delivers practical insights you can use today. Hit follow, share this with a colleague who wrangles maps or liability, and leave a quick review to tell us what part changed how you think about evidence.

    22 min

  4. FEB 20

    Engaging with Employment Attorney, Merry Campbell

    Contracts decide more than pay. They decide credibility, leverage, and whether your independence will stand up under scrutiny. We sit down with attorney Merry Campbell, Chair of Employment and Labor Law and Corporate Investigations at Shulman Rogers, to unpack how expert witnesses can safely operate as independent contractors without triggering misclassification, payment delays, or discovery landmines. From the default presumption of W‑2 employment to the maze of federal and state tests, Merry explains why “1099” is a claim you have to earn and document. We walk through the realities that make an independent contractor model viable for experts: freedom to accept or reject engagements, control over rates and scope, and the ability to serve multiple clients. Then we translate those realities into contract language that holds up. You’ll hear concrete guidance on defining compensable work, setting invoicing cadence, structuring milestones for termination, and avoiding any clause that ties payment to case outcomes. Merry Campbell shares pragmatic strategies for getting paid when intermediaries sit between you and the end client, how to request periodic status updates without creating forgettable obligations, and the exact red flags that opposing counsel will use to attack your neutrality. If you want your practice to run like a business, and your contract to prove it, this conversation will sharpen your approach to classification, negotiation, and payment.

    26 min

  5. FEB 10

    Engaging with Family Law Attorney, Russell Knight

    We sit down with Russell Knight, a Chicago and Naples divorce attorney to unpack how experts get chosen, what courts really value, and the quiet ways reputation and rigor steer outcomes. Russell breaks down the two pillars of expertise he relies on: financial analysts who trace income, valuation, and debt, and mental health professionals who assess parenting time and responsibilities. He explains the reality behind “court lists”, how the courthouse whisper network shapes expectations, and the specific questions attorneys ask before engagement: Are you accepted in this venue? Have you appeared before this judge? The conversation gets practical fast. Retain your expert, set firm delivery dates, and avoid late, stale reports that collapse under new facts. If you’re an expert witness aiming to be credible, timely, and resilient under pressure, or a lawyer who needs reports judges can trust, this conversation is a field guide. Subscribe and share.

    28 min

  6. JAN 16

    Engaging with Digital Forensics Expert, Robert DeCicco

    In this episode… Today’s guest is Robert DeCicco, principal consultant and lead expert in digital forensic technology services and cybersecurity at Quint, LLC. He's an experienced expert witness in the digital technology space, and a sought-after lecturer. Mr. DeCicco holds a BS in mathematics and computer science from Penn State and numerous licenses and accreditations in his field. According to Mr. DeCicco, ask your attorney before appearing in a new venue. Whether it’s cowboy boots in a Texas court or dressing up for New York, there are advantages to knowing the norms, rules, and procedures before stepping in for the first time.  Check out the entire episode for our discussion on neutral appointments, protecting yourself in engagement letters, and remote demeanor.

    39 min

  7. 12/23/2025

    Engaging with Hydrogeologist Expert, Theresa Jehn-Dellaport

    Want a masterclass in expert witnessing from someone who’s seen it all? Hydrogeologist Theresa Jehn-Dellaport joins us to unpack how technical experts can protect credibility, communicate complex science with clarity, and navigate high-pressure moments without losing the thread. From her first landfill siting testimony to water court battles and federal cases, Theresa shows how careful preparation and ethical backbone shape outcomes. We dive into the first call playbook—what attorneys ask, what experts should ask in return, and the single red flag that ends an engagement: any request to ignore data. Theresa explains why credibility is a one-time currency and how to safeguard it across reports, social media, and public talks. She shares actionable deposition tactics, including pacing your answers, asking for breaks, and refusing to opine from flawed exhibits. Her approach centers on visual storytelling: GIS maps, groundwater animations, and simple demonstrations that bridge the gap between advanced modeling and lay understanding. You’ll hear how venue differences—civil court, federal procedures, and Colorado’s water court with its referee process—change structure but not the essentials of good expert work. We also get into rebuttal strategy: how to evaluate opposing reports, concede valid points without losing your thesis, and frame disagreements in terms of data and methods. Underneath it all is a blueprint for strong attorney–expert relationships built on respect, clear roles, and independent judgment. If you’re an expert curious about taking the stand, an attorney aiming to get the best from your experts, or a listener who loves the craft of clear communication, this conversation delivers practical, field-tested guidance. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review telling us your go-to tactic for keeping credibility front and center.

    23 min

  8. 12/09/2025

    Engaging with Estate and Tax Attorney, John Hartog

    Want to know why the best experts rarely “win” a case—and why they still matter so much? We sit down with veteran estate and tax attorney and expert witness John Hartog to unpack the real value of expert testimony: confidence backed by facts, credibility that survives cross, and preparation that starts early enough to shape the entire strategy. John traces his first expert assignment decades ago to what makes testimony persuasive now. We talk about the line between confidence and overconfidence, how an expert adjusts for a judge versus a jury, and why swagger reads as advocacy when a jury is listening. He explains why experts typically don’t decide outcomes—the facts do—but how a disciplined opinion can frame those facts so a fact finder sees them clearly. If you’ve ever waited until the eleventh hour to hire an expert, John spells out the hidden costs, from shaky disclosures to weakened confidence, and makes the case for bringing experts in early to guide discovery, strategy, and settlement leverage. We go deep on credibility management: handling old articles and books that pop up on cross, distinguishing best practice from the standard of care, and staying consistent without being rigid when new facts or law emerge. John breaks down smart communication under differing discovery rules, especially in states where an expert’s entire file is discoverable. You’ll hear practical tactics—phone-first for substance, tight emails for logistics, screen sharing for drafts—and how federal versus state rules change report strategy. We also compare venues, from California courts to federal cases and even foreign jurisdictions that admit expert opinions on California law, and why local counsel should set guardrails when testifying elsewhere. Across it all, one theme stands out: productive tension. Lawyers sharpen an expert’s opinion by challenging it; experts strengthen a case by flagging weak facts and untenable theories. That respectful friction is where durable, persuasive testimony is forged. If you work with experts—or are one—this conversation offers a clear roadmap for building opinions that hold up when it counts. If you enjoyed the conversation, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review to help others find Engaging Experts.

    37 min
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About

After 25 years helping litigators find the right expert witnesses, Round Table Group’s network contains some of the world’s greatest experts. On this podcast, we talk to some of them about what’s new in their field of study and their experience as expert witnesses.

Information

  • Creator
    Round Table Group
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    182
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Engaging Experts
  • Show Website
    Engaging Experts